http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/GR_restaurants_2019.aspx?utm_source=Emma&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=New+year%2c+new+food%3a+10+restaurants%2c+cafes%2c+%26+bars+you%27ll+be+digging+into+in+2019&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Welcome+back%2c+readers!+10+new+restaurants+for+2019%2c+MLK+day+celebrations%2c+and+more.
its official, they have a lot to live to at that spot.

Their data shows GR at 1,060,000 for 2017 (1.048M for 2016). Perhaps we'll pass Rochester by end of calendar year 2019? Data is fun to analyze.
Anyway, maybe we could wager a pint that GR passes Buffalo by 2023?

Interesting data/the 1% GR growth is as you mentioned at 25th, pretty good. That puts GR to pass Rochester by 2020? Probably Buffalo a few years later if that growth maintains and then GR would be in the top 50.

The airport can handle Air Force 1. So I think the airport could potentially handle some of the larger jets used for international travel. I'd think at some point in the next decade or so a London flight could be possible.

Different forum and from a few years ago and I think its been discussed here in the past too.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/grand-rapids-metro-area/2293964-should-grand-rapids-consolidate-its-suburbs.html
If you annex Wyoming, Kentwood and Walker and then GR is a city with 350,000 people and maybe we hit people's radar a bit more.

I've always wondered if housing attached to a mall could be successful. You have restaurants/shopping and a really walkable type community right out your door. I am sure someone has done the research and concluded its not feasible, I agree, however, that the mall should try to think outside the box a little bit. Could that be a good fit for a Whole Foods/Dave N Busters/Lucky Strike type of facility?

I think either of those sites are nice locations (I'm surprised strip clubs are still viable in GR). Seems. The strip club and that retail strip could mark for a nice/new upgrade. I don't recall in my memory that it's ever been redone if at all.

Was by there today and there was a sign in the window saying something along the line of "a little bird says to watch here closely as something is coming soon".
I drove by so didn't get a pic. I wonder if that's a clue it's by the same owners as the early bird and little bird cafe/restaurants.

Here is my list:
#1. Like kwl said, I think the craft beer boom is over. I think if you have solid financials and a good business plan, you'll stay in business and thrive, but I am worried about those that have maybe over extended themselves. (I thought that to be New Holland, but they are still expanding). Nationally, it appears that spirits and marijuana are creating headwinds against beer in general. With that being said, I think GR's distillers are probably in good position for continual growth for 2019.
#2. I don't think GRFC gets a stadium deal, unless there is a wealthy benefactor. Granted, its wiki, but it looks like attendance is down about 50%? I enjoy soccer more than baseball, but for whatever reason I find myself going to 2-3 Whitecaps games a year versus only 1 GRFC game. I think its just more of a family friendly event. I get zero interest to taking the family to a GRFC game. I hope I am wrong on this and they continue to grow, but for 2019, I see no progression for GRFC getting a bigger/soccer specific stadium.
#3. Investment into Rivertown will finally happen. They'll work to get some new to GR restaurants/stores to burnish its image. Cheesecake Factory or Crate & Barrel, I don't know the retail scene that well, but I think if there's any urgency there to keep that place moving forward and not collapsing like the development on north beltline, they get creative and add some new stuff to the area.
#4. I do not see the need for a Whole Foods in GR with D&W, Fresh Thyme, Meijer, Trader Joe's, etc. however, with their investment in the area, I do think we'll see a Whole Foods announced in 2019 and built in 2020. With that, I also think we'll see a second Trader Joe's in the area (Rivertown/Metro Hospital or maybe the area by the Score on the way to Rockford)
#5. Announced plans for redevelopment in Gas Light Village.
#6. Gerald R Ford airport will get several more direct flights added. My guesses would be Salt Lake City or LA is next (I'd love to see something more north in CA like San Francisco or Seattle, but my money is on the first two)
#7. I think someone mentioned this earlier, but I also agree and I predict we'll see more chains moving DT (and I think this is a good thing). We'll see a CVS/Walgreens, standalone Starbucks location, and another restaurant chain enter the downtown scene.
#8. The hotel at the convention center gets announced in 2019/construction starts in 2020.
#9. The MSU medical complex II starts and is bigger then initially announced and tops 400,000 sq ft.
#10. Little or no movement on the Market sight.
#11. We do see a 20+ story building announced (separate the convention hotel)

I thought from the city's master planning sessions that the ramp was nearing the end of its useful life and the city did not feel that the amount of parking in the ramp was needed. That the overall parking available within the entire Gaslight Village area was sufficient, but that the master plan wanted to see the area being currently occupied by the ramp redeveloped along with the empty lot next to it and the empty field behind the ramp.
For all of the economic activity in the GR metro and the amount of single family houses that get bought, demolished and rebuilt, I am continually surprised that there is empty commercial property that has sat relatively empty.